Moratuwa (Sinhala: මොරටුව) is a large municipality in Sri Lanka, on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, near Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. It is situated on the Galle–Colombo (Galle road) main highway, 18km (11mi) south of the centre of Colombo. Moratuwa is surrounded on three sides by water, except in the north of the city, by the Indian Ocean on the west, the Lake Bolgoda on the east and the Moratu river on the south. According to the 2012 census, the suburb had a population of 168,280.[1]
Both Moratuwa and Lakshapathiya are mentioned in the 15th century poem Kokila Sandesha, written by a monk poet of Devundara to celebrate Prince Sapumal during the reign of King Parakramabahu VI.[3][4] Lunawa, Uyana and Rawathawatte are mentioned in 16th century chronicles and church records of martyrs, the latter commemorates Revatha Thera, the chief incumbent of a temple built by King Vijayabahu I.[5][6] Lakshapathiya, meaning commanding a hundred-thousand, was once the land awarded to Lak Vijaya Singu, a Commander of King Nissanka Malla.[6][7] Subsequent to the Wijayaba Kollaya and the division of the Kotte Kingdom, the hamlet of Koralawella was created as part of Raigam Korale, which again became part of Moratuwa in 1735, however losing Ratmalana and parts of Borupane to Dehiwala. The name Moratuwa is derived from "Mura Atuwa" meaning sentry turret in Sinhalese which once existed at Kaldamulla.[6]
About twelve miles (19km (12mi)) from Colombo, the chief town of Ceylon, on the high road to Galle, which is the second town, there is a belt or bar of land, lying between the sea on the one side, and, an extensive lake, or rather lagoon, on the other. And as the sea in this quarter abounds in fish, and this lagoon has many arms leading from its ample basin into canals stretching along the coast, and into rivers, flowing from the mountains, so as to form a great harbour, the surrounding country, which is very fertile, has become very populous. On the bank of land referred to, stands the thriving village of Morotto, remarkable for its fishermen and its carpenters.
Industries in Moratuwa include the manufacture of furniture, rubber products, batteries, transformers, and wood handicrafts. This suburb is also a fishing and trading center. Of these, Moratuwa is most well known for its furniture.[8]
Education
The University of Moratuwa, a leading technological university in South Asia is situated on the banks of the Bolgoda Lake in Katubedda, Moratuwa. The University of Moratuwa is an independent state university, which was established on 22 December 1978 under the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978 and operates under the general direction of the University Grants Commission.
Industrial Engineering Training Institute (IETI) is one of a national institute located in Moratuwa. IETI belongs to the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) as well as it is one of the 92 Vocational Colleges in Sri Lanka
High schools in the area are Moratu Maha Vidyalaya, Prince of Wales' College, St. Sebastian's College, Princess of Wales' College, Our Lady of Victories Convent, St. Sebastian's Girls' School, Weera Puran Appu Model School, Methodist High School - Puwakaramba, Janajaya Vidyalaya, De Soysa Maha Vidyalaya, Podujaya Vidyalaya - Angulana, Rawathawaththa Roman Catholic School, Sri Sunanda Upananda Maha Vidyalaya - Egodauyana, St. Anthony's School - Kadalana, Koralawella Roman Catholic School, Sri Saddarmodaya Vidyalaya - Koralawella, Arafath Muslim Maha Vidyalaya - Egodauyana Modara, Willorawatte Gnanissara Buddhist Vidyalaya, Shikshadana Maha Vidyalaya - Lakshapathiya, Rawathawaththa Methodist College, Egodauyana Junior School and Kusinara International School.
As primary schools are Bodhiraja Vidyalaya - Katubedda, Saleena Primary School - Kaldemulla, Moratumulla Lanka Saba Vidyalaya, St. Mary's College - Katukurunda, Thilaka Vidyalaya - Koralawella, Sri Nagasena Vidyalaya - Koralawella, Sugathadharmadhara Vidyalaya - Egodauyana and Uyana Junior School.
Attractions
The Bolgoda lake situated in Moratuwa is the largest natural lake of Sri Lanka. It is a tributary of the Kalu Ganga which originates at Adam's Peak and is a popular resort for swimming, angling and boating. Bolgoda lake spreads, twisting from Ratmalana via Moratuwa and Panadura till it meets the sea at Wadduwa and Moratuwa via the Moratu ganga.[8] Moratuwa is home to the oldest church dedicated to St. Sebastian and the Holy Emmanuel Church, which was once the tallest building in Sri Lanka.[9] A monument to Puran Appu stands in the premises of the Moratuwa Municipal Council and a museum is housed at the Weera Puran Appu Vidyalaya.[10][11]
An international cricket stadium, De Soysa Stadium (Tyronne Fernando Stadium) is situated in Moratuwa.
Demographics
Moratuwa consisting of all ethnic and religious groups seen in Sri Lanka. This suburb has a percentage Christian population after Negombo city, significantly higher than the national average.
The Public library of Moratuwa Municipal Council “Janasetha Kala Ketha” at Galle Road, Katubedda, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka was opened in 1987. This was constructed by the funds raised by Moratuwa municipal council to the amount of rupees 15 laks and 50 laks by the Japanese organization “World Exposition Commemorative”. The library was constructed according to Japanese architecture. Among the other facilities provided by the main library are art and stories hour and Tamil language hour for children, Computer classes for children and adults, conference, lectures etc. Every year the library celebrates the literature month (September) and National reading month (October), conducting various activities to develop reading habits among the children. Janasetha Kala Ketha, the public library of Moratuwa, has been awarded as The Best Public Library in Colombo district in the years 2012 and 2013 and as The Best Public Library in the Western Province of the Island in 2012.
Transport
The main road transport link to Moratuwa is the Colombo-Galle Highway (Galle Road), which links the suburb from the North and South. Moratuwa is linked to the outside by four bridges, Old Moratuwa Bridge at the town centre, New Galle Road Bridge at Modara, Kospalana Bridge and Borupana Road Bridge, all across the Bolgoda Lake. The town is linked by Galle Road to the North at Ratmalana, to Panadura to the South and to Pilyandala in the East. Access to the Southern Expressway from Moratuwa is either through Kottawa or by Horana Road. There are two Sri Lanka Transport Board Depots in Moratuwa city as Moratuwa S.L.T.B Depot and Katubedda S.L.T.B Depot.
The Coastal Railway Line from Colombo to Matara runs through Moratuwa along the coast. There are five Railway Stations in Moratuwa city. Railway Stations at Angulana, Lunawa, Moratuwa, Koralawella and Egodauyana serve residents of Moratuwa.
Architecture
Unlike most other cities in Sri Lanka, Moratuwa is characterised by many Christian schools and a large variety of church buildings, e.g. Anglican Holy Emmanuel Church which was built 1857-1860 in a neogothic style with a tall clock tower,[12] the modern Methodist Church dating from 2016 in Moratuwella and St. Sebastian's Church, a neobaroque Roman Catholic church. Few buildings dating from colonial times are preserved, e.g. the Clock Tower and the Post Office.
Moratuwa Railway Station
Galle Road
Clock tower and Urban Council
Post Office
Methodist Church in Moratuwella
St. Sebastian's Church
Related Research Articles
The University of Moratuwa is a public university in Sri Lanka. It is located on the bank of the Bolgoda Lake in Katubedda, Moratuwa, a suburb of Sri Lanka's capital Colombo.
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Sri Lankabhimanya Wannakuwattawaduge Don Albert Perera, better known by his adopted name Amaradeva, was a prominent Sri Lankan Sinhalese vocalist, violinist and composer. Primarily using traditional instruments like sitars, tablas and harmoniums, he incorporated Sinhala folk music with Indian ragas in his work. Many consider his contribution to the development of Sinhala music as unmatched; hence, he is occasionally cited as the "Maestro of Sri Lankan Music".
De Soysa International Cricket Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Moratuwa, in southwestern Sri Lanka. It is currently used mostly for cricket matches. The stadium holds 15,000 people and hosted its first Test match in 1992. The ground opened in 1940 and gained Test status in 1979. Moratuwa, located just eight miles (13 km) south of Colombo is renowned for its carpentry, cricket and its philanthropists. Indeed it was the most famous of these families that initiated the development of De Soysa Park Stadium, when they donated the 5 acre plot of land to the Urban Council in 1940, to develop the Sports Complex. An additional 2 acres were sold under its market value by another member of the family. The ground was named De Soysa Park and subsequently used mainly for Moratuwa Sports Club (MSC) and school competitions.
Weerahannadige Francisco Fernando, colloquially known by his nickname Puran Appu is one of the notable figures of Sri Lanka's post-Kandyan history. Regarded colloquially as a national hero, his staunch resistance against British rule made him a symbol of independence and patriotism within many Sri Lankans. He was born on 7 November 1812 and raised in the coastal town of Moratuwa. He left Moratuwa with his family at the age of 13 in the aftermath of a village dispute and stayed in Ratnapura with his uncle, who was the first Sinhalese proctor, eventually settling in Uva Province. In early 1847, he met and married Bandara Menike, the daughter of Gunnepana Arachchi in Kandy.
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Panadura is a main city in Kalutara District, Western Province in Sri Lanka. It is located approximately 27 km (17 mi) south of Colombo. Panadura is surrounded on all sides by water; the Indian Ocean, the Bolgoda Lake and river is reason for that. Panadura is famed as the location of important events in the Buddhist revival movement of Sri Lanka. Panadura Beach is an attractive place for local and foreign tourists.
Charles Henry de Soysa Dharmagunawardana Vipula Jayasuriya Karunaratna Disanayaka popularly known as Charles Henry de Soysa, JP was a Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was a pioneering planter, industrialist and was the wealthiest Ceylonese of the 19th century. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first Ceylonese bank, the Moratuwa carpenters guild, the Ceylon Agricultural and National Associations. He is widely regarded as the greatest philanthropist of the island for contributions which includes the De Soysa Maternity Hospital, the Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges, the Model Farm Experimental Station and many other institutions and acts of charity, establishing infant-maternal healthcare and secular education for girls in the country. He would have been the island's first Knight Bachelor, but having died prior, his widow was given the rare honor of the use of the style and dignity of wife of the Knight Bachelor and was known as Catherine, Lady de Soysa.
Prince of Wales' College is a selective-entry boys' school in Moratuwa, a suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, was founded and endowed in 1876 by Sir Charles Henry de Soysa, a famous 19th century Sri Lankan philanthropist and was named in honour of Prince Albert, Prince of Wales
Walauwa or walawwa is the name given to a feudal/colonial manor house in Sri Lanka of a native headmen. It also refers to the feudal social systems that existed during the colonial era.
St. Sebastian's College is a Catholic educational institution in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, established in 1854.
Gate Mudaliyar Jeronis de Soysa was a pioneering Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was a pioneer coffee planter and an industrialist who became the wealthiest Ceylonese of the 19th century by establishing the largest native commercial enterprise of the era. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first Ceylonese bank and is often referred to as a father of private enterprise in British Ceylon. He was the first Mudaliyar to be elevated in recognition of his philanthropy.
Thomas Amarasuriya, OBE was a Ceylonese planter and politician. He was a member of the State Council of Ceylon and President of the Senate of Ceylon. He was the first Ceylonese Chairman of the Planters Association and a brother of H. W. Amarasuriya.
Princess of Wales' College is a girls' school in Sri Lanka, situated in Moratuwa, a suburb of Colombo. Princess of Wales' College was founded in 1876 by Sir Charles Henry de Soysa who was a famous 19th-century Sri Lankan philanthropist. The school was named in honour of Alexandra, Princess of Wales
Kshetrarama Maha Vihara is a historic Buddhist temple situated in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. It is located in the Lakshapathiya area, approximately 1.2 km (0.75 mi) from Katubedda junction on Colombo-Galle main road (A2). The temple has been formally recognized by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka.
St Matthias’ Church, is a church in Moratuwa in Sri Lanka. The church is located in Lakshapathiya approximately 1.1 km (0.68 mi) away from the Soysapura junction on Colombo-Galle main road (A2). It was consecrated on 24 February 1876 by Reginald Stephen Copleston, the fourth Bishop of Colombo.
Kusala Vichitra Abhayavardhana was a Sri Lankan social worker. She was the co-founder of the Civil Service International in Sri Lanka, founding secretary International Women’s Year Sri Lanka and national chair of the Women in Peace in Sri Lanka. She was a Member of Parliament from 1970 to 1977.
Battle of the Golds is an annual Big Match played between Sri Sumangala College and Moratu Maha Vidyalaya since 1934. It is known as The Battle of the Golds due to the colours of the two schools' flags i.e. Green, Gold and Blue of Sri Sumangala College and Maroon, Gold & Maroon of Moratu Maha Vidyalaya.
Holy Emmanuel Church is an Anglican stone church, located in Hanguranketha. The church was constructed in 1886 by Charles Henry de Soysa and is one of the oldest churches in the district. It is located approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) south of the town centre, adjoining Hanguranketha C. C. Vidyalaya.
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